Lead Researcher: Prof Martin Kluckow

This is a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) of active medical treatment vs supportive care alone of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in babies born before 28 weeks of pregnancy. This placebo controlled clinical trial was the first time targeted early treatment of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was utilised in a state-of-the-art clinical trial design that will allow reviewing the real natural history of treated and untreated PDA’s.  This major new trial has now completed at both sites – Royal North Shore Hospital and John Hunter Hospital and enrolled over 72 infants. The results of this trial have been presented at several major academic meetings and are being prepared for publication.

The PDA is a normal extra blood vessel joining the heart to the lungs in premature infants. The more premature the baby the more likely it is that the PDA will stay open. One of the major controversies in the care of the preterm infant is whether to close the PDA with medical treatment. This is because there is a significant chance of spontaneous closure and the drugs that tend to be used have side effects and often don’t work effectively.

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